Romans 10:20-21 // Holier Than Sow

But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10:20-21)

I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. (Isaiah 65:1-5)

I don't know about you, but it looks to me like Paul is quoting Isaiah from memory, and he's not getting it quite right. He's got the meaning right, but not only is the wording different, the order of ideas in the sentence is different too (I am referring to the first verse in both passages). This suggests to me that being familiar with the ideas of the Bible is more important than knowing the exact wording of it. We have been too fastidious over precision in our Bible study and fallen short on accuracy. I refer to myself and others who consider themselves diligent students of the Bible. We have strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel. We have debated over the Johannine Comma and ignored Isaiah 58. We are really a lot like the Israelites in Isaiah 65.

God's people have adopted the worship practices of the rest of society for convenience (or relevance?) and still have the nerve to claim to be holier than thou yes, that's where this phrase comes from. They also dare to be unclean, not in the moral sense, but in the hygiene sense, like eating foods the Bible declares unclean. Yes, this describes the Israelites, but it describes the diligent Bible students of today even better.

Be a diligent Bible student, but strive not about words to no profit (2 Tim 2:14) and meditate on all the scriptures. Live up to a high standard of moral and also hygienic purity, as laid out in the Bible and expounded by research. In all of this don't even think you are holier than the unrepentant sinner, we are no better than him, just a lot happier.